Bearing



` May 19, 1931. y H. A. s. HowARTH 1,806,062

BEARING Filed Deo. 21, 1928 Patented May 19, 1931 reisen HARRY A. S. HOW'ARTH, 0F FRANKFORD, EENNSYLVNA, ASSIGNOR TO KENGSBURY IMAGE-EINE VJORKS, ENC., ,OF FRANKFOBD, PHILADELPHIA, EENNSYLVANIA, A COR- EOBATION OF DELAWARE BEARING Original application filed April 12, 1927, Serial No. 183,135.

This invention relates to bearings, and more paiticulainy to combiner thrust and steady bearings. This application is a diviot application Serial No. 183,135, tiled April l2, 1927, by the present applicant.

it has heretofore-been the practice, in comonied thrust and steady bearings, to support the steady bearing in one Way or another from the'pot or housing which sulrounds the thrustbearing. rlhis has necessitated that the mounting for the steaoy bearing be dependent upon the size and shape of said t or housing, and inasmuch as the size and pe ot" the latter vary Wit in wie e limits 5 depending upon the service to which the bearing is put, the character et oil cooling` employed, the size and sp ed of the bea etr, a 'd as it is also common for the pot or housing' to be furnished by a diiierent manufacturer :trom that of the thrust bearing and the steady bearing, it has been impossibie to standardize steady bearing support-s with the bearings with which they are associated.

@ne object of 'this invei` Aion to provide l Lhrust steady bearing to: the steady l: i lent of the size and s:

lensing, but is deterhrust bearing, so

ot or be i e 1 bv the size or the ist tnesteadv bearing` support and the thrust bearing ly bearing` may be furnished -h'e hearing nanufactui i ther object oi this invention is to provide a novel combined thrnstand steady bearin.; as here i characterized wherein the lubrication of th steady bearing is eti'ected-iirom oil provided for lubricating the thrust ct of 'this invention is to prod thrust and steady/'bearing nts effecting the collar.

Divided and this application lecl December Serial No. 327,866.

vide a combined thrust and steady bearing in which the thrust and steady .bearing` elements are associated in unitary relationship and in which the steady bearing may be Within or below the thrust bearing as Well as =55 above the same.

Arinotlier object of this invention is to provide combined thrust and steady bearing *with novel arrangements for effectingthe lubrication of the steady bearing from the oil 16.3 provided for the lubrication of the thrust bearing' and embodying` a compound oil reservoir, one element of which acts as an expansion tank for the other element.

Another object of this invention is to-pro- 265 vide a compound oil reservoir for a lubricating,` system in which one element acts asa cooling housing for the oil and is keptat a constant level, and the other element acts as an expansion tank for the former.

Another object of this invention is tofprovide a combined thrust and steady bearing which enables the use of a stationary thrust rlhis invention is capable of receiving` a ;75 variety oi' mechanical expressions, several of Which are shown on the accompanying drawings, but it is tobe expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a delinition V.S0 of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate correspondingv parts in the several 35 iigures.

Fig. 1 is a halt-axial section ot acombined thrust and steady bearing embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. halt-axial section of anotheroo embodiment of the present invention; 4and Fig. 3 an axial section of kanother embodiment of the present invention employing` a stationary thrust collar.

In the form of the invention illustrated in 95 Fig. l of the drawings, a hollow shaft 1 carries in any suitable Way a rotatable-thrust member 9 havinga bearing surface Bwhich cooperates With a stationary thrust-member i of any suitable form. A shell loot a steady lo() bearing 26 is within and below trie elements of the thrust bearing and is suitably ttached, as by bolts or screws 11, to a support 12, which is shown as inserted in an aperture 13 in the pot or housing 14 and suitably attached thereto as by bolts or screws 15. Support 12 is here shown as connected to or integrally formed with a ring 1G which receives the equalizing plates G for the stationary thrust bearing member, and one or more suitable passages 17 are formed therein to permit the oil to flow from the body of the oil in the well to the inner periphery of the stationary bearing member 4. Suitable openings 45 are formed in the ring 16 to permit the return of the oil to the well 14.

An auxiliary oil reservoir 18, of generally channel shaped formation, is suitably attached, as by the bolts or 19, to the under side of the support 12, and the shell 10 has a depending flange 2O which carries a viscosity pump ring 21, with which cooperates a flanged ring 22 suitably carried by the shaft 1, as by means of a threaded sleeve A solid shaft 24 is shown as suitably 1xeyed within the hollow shaft 1. r1`he viscosity pump 21 raises the oil from the auxiliary oil reservoir 18 and delivers it through one or more passages 25 to the lower end of the steady bearingV 26. The oil after passing through the steady bearing flows over the top of an oil retaining ring 27, suitably secured to the channel ring 16, and joins the body of oil circulating through the thrust bearing and openings 45 in ring 16. rlhe oil is returned to the auxiliary rese voir 13 from the main oil well in the pot or housing 14 through one or more suitable passages 28 shown as formed in the pot 14 and the support 12. ln order that only cool oil shall overflow into the auxiliary reservoir 13, the passages 23 are shown as communicating with a riser pipe 29 which is surrounded y a second pipe 30 the interior of which communicates with the body of the oil in the well through apertures 31 in the bottom thereof. Hence only oil adjacent the bottom of the oil well, which has received the cooling action of a cooling coil 32, can enter the pipe 30 and rise therein to overflow into the pipe 29 and thereby return through the passages 23 to` the auxiliary reservoir 18.

It will be noted that the auxiliary reservoir 13 acts as an expansion tank for 'the upper reservoir, since the oil level in the upper reservoir is maintained constant as indicated by the dotted line 14', and the level the lower reservoir, as indicated by the dotted line 18, may rise on expansion of the oil or f lower on evaporation of the oil. The upper reservoir acts as the cooling housing for the oil, by means of the circulation of a cooling medium through the coil 32, and there is a constant circulation of oil between the upper and the lower reservoirs when the bearing is in operation. Since, however, the level of the oil in the upper reservoir can never fall below the top of the tube 29, it is apparent that the thrust bearing surfaces 3 are constantly immersed to a fixed depth in the oil.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the steady bearing 2G is again positioned within and below the thrust bearing elements 3 and 4, and is carriedby a support 12 secured to the underside of the pot 14 and positioned within the aperture 13 thereof. ln place of a viscosity pump, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the raising of the oil to the steady bearing 26 is effected by a rotating bowl 35 of any suitable construction, shown as retained on the shaft 1 by an annular nut 36 and provided with an overhanging flange 37. T he shell 10 of the steady bearing is provided with a downwardly extending flange 3S which terminates in a radially extending flange 39 which projects into close proximity to the inner periphery of the outer wall of the bowl 35. Flange 39 has one or more inwardly directed passages 49 which communicate with one or more axial passages 41 in the flange 38, whereby the oil is led through one or more passages 42 to the steady bearing surfaces. The passages 40, 41 and 42 thus take the oil from the inner periphery of the outer wall of the rotating bowl, where the oil is thrown by centrifugal force, and lead the same to the steady bearing surfaces by reason of the pressure generated by that force. After passing through the steady bearing the oil flows over the top of an oil retaining ring 27 which in this case is suitably secured to the shell 10 of the steady bearing, and joins the oil flowing through the thrust bearing and into the cooling reservoir 14 through openings 45. The oil returns to the rotating bowl as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the return passages in the support 12 and steady bearing shell 10 being shown at 43. Equalizing passages 44 are formed through the depending flange 3S of the steady bearing shell so that the pressure is equalized on the two sides of the same. To enable the bowl to be assembled after the flange 40 is in position, said bowl is preferably made in halves secured together in any suitable way.

It will be noted that in this modification also the bowl 35 acts as an expansion tank for the upper reservoir 14, so that the level 14 of the oil in the reservoir 14 is maintained constant in order to secure constant lubrication of the thrust bea-ring members. The level 35 of the oil in the expansion bowl 35 will assume a parabolic surface when the bearing is in operation, but the radial openings 40 in the flange 39 are so located that they are always in the deepest part of the body of oil in said bowl.

The remaining elements of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 are analogous to the correspondingly numbered elements in Fig. 1,

and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to describe the same particularly with reference to this embodiment of the invention.

In place of a riser pipe as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the return of the oil to the auX- iliary reservoir or bowl 35 may be effected through one or more suitable passages formed in the support 12, but preferably communicating with the main oil well adjacent the bottom thereof so as to assure that the oil overflowing into the auxiliary reservoir or bowl shall be taken from the coolest body of oil in the main oil well.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown an embodiment of the present invention employing a stationary thrust collar 8O carried by a stationary shaft 8l mounted on the base 82 of a pot or oil well 83 of any suitable construction and shown as including a cooling coil 84C. The thrust bearing is here illustrated asa double acting bearing, although a single acting thrust could be employed if desired, and includes bearing members 85 of any suitable construction cooperating with opposed faces of the collar 8O and shown as shoes pivotally mounted on equalizing plates 86 carried by channel-shaped base rings 87 suitably secured to a casing 88. The shoes 85 may obviously be made the stationary bearing elements by suitably mounting them on the stationary shaft 8l, and the collar 8O may then be made the rotatable bearing member by dividing it into a pair of collars mounted in the casing S8 one above and one below the stationary shoes. This reversal of parts has the advantage of relieving the shoes from centrifugal force and thus increasing their freedom for tilting action.

Casing 8S is suitably attached, as by bolts or screws 89, to a flange or head'QO suitably keyed or secured to a rotatable shaft 91. Hence the thrustbearingmembers 85, together with their supports and the casing 88 carrying the latter, rotate with the shaft. Casing 88 has an axial extension 92 which supports the steady bearing shell 93, and hence, as in the embodiment heretofore described, the steady bearing is supported in unitary relationship with the thrust bearing and its support is entirely independent of the size, shape and character of the pot 83.

As the casing 88 rotates with the shaft '91. the oil within the same is thrown radially outward, by centrifugal force, against the inner periphery of the outer wall of said casing, thus assuming an approximately parabolic surface as in the auxiliary reservoir 35 of Fig. Q. The periphery of the stationary thrust collar SO is in close proximity to the inner wall of said casing, and said thrust collar is provided with one or more inwardly directed passages 94 which lead from the periphery of said collar to axially extending passages 95 in the shaft 8l. rlhe latter passages communicate through the 'of the steady bearing, while the base'SQ. with conduits 96 through which, and the pipes 97 which open into the oil well adjacent the bottom thereof, the oil is returned to the oil well. rilhe oil rises through the cooling coil Seland overflows into passages 98 and 99 formed in the base 82. rllhe passage 98 communicates through a passagelUO with an oil groove lOl at the upper extremity passi e communicates with a passage 102 in tno c y shaft 8l leading to the chamber at the'iniier periphery of tlie thrust bearing inem-c 'lfhence the oil delivered thereto A:flows outwardly under the action of ccntrifugal force, induced by the rotation of the thrust bearing members 85, to form the oil lilm and to be subjects-e` to pressure at the outer end of the passages 9d. Hence continuous circulation of oil is maintained between the rotatable casing 88 for the thrust bearing members and the oil well 88, on the one hand, and between the oil well and the steady bearin s. on the other hand, the oil which flows ouah the stead bearing 'oinh J :n

ing the oil in ci '-nO 88. The rotation of the l rs S5 and the vhousing 88 is p o considerable pressure, generat i or centrifugal force at the inlet to L A -f ,QL i passages 9a, and ii desired this pressure n ly ne utilized to cause the oil to circulate any suitable cooling passages, or baille plates, as well as through an containing cooling coil as illuslii this embodiment the housing 88 acts as tie expansion tank for the upper reservoir 83, and the level 83 of the oil iii the upper reservoir is maintained constant. lt

will further oe noted that the parabolic form steady bearing of the smallest possible Aleien peri lOO diameter to be used, a feature 0f very coiisideral-ole importance in liigh speed bearings. The cooling of tliebem'ng members may b additionally facilitated by providi fig the casing 88 with ribs so that air circulation generated by the rotation of casing will assist in the dissipation of heat.

will. be perceived that a combined thrust ard steady bearing llas been provided wherethe support for the steady bearing is enirely independent of the sise and shape of termined by tl e size of the thrust bearing, so that the support for the steady bearing may be standardized andthe steady bearing and the thrust bearing may be furnished as a. unit, while 'the lubrication of the steady bearing may be effected in various ways and by means variously disposed with respect to the pot or bearing housing, but may be de-` the bearing elements. Moreover, the steady bearing, either with or without the lubricating features heretofore disclosed, may be disposed either above or below the thrust bearing.

The ,invention may also be embodied in structures wherein the thrust` collar is rotatable or stationary, and wherein shaft is either solid or hollow. lllhile a number of embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in den. it is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are not exclusive, as various other embodiments will now readil themselves to 'those skilled in changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and pr L ,fi-tion of parts, without departing -from the spirit of this invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the claims hereto appended for a delinition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. ln combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combi nation with a. pot or housing for the thrust bearing, a support the mationary searing member of the steady bearing mounted on the base of said pot or housing and within an aperture therein, said support including a member unitarily associated with the thrust bearing members, and a shell for the stationary hearing of the steady bearing rigidly attached to said member.

ln a Combined thrust and steady bear ing for a shaft rovided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in Combination with a pot or housing for the t irust bearing, a support for the stationary bearing member of the steady bearing mounted on thebase of said pot or housing and within an aperture therein, said support projecting below said base and including a member unitarily associated with the thrust bearing members, and a shell for the stationary member of the steady bearing detachably mounted upon said member.

3. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for the thrust bearing, a. support for the stationary bearing member of the steady bearing mounted on the base of said pot or housing, an auxiliary pot or housing, and means including passages in said support for conveying oil from said pot or housing to said auxiliary pot or housing.

t. In a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in

'tl a pot or housing for the v suggest Fluo L T "l is art, wane combination with thrust bearing, a support for the stationary bearing member of the steady bearing mounted in an aperture in the Vbase of said' pot or housing. v

5. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and st-eady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for the thrust bearing, a support for the stationary bearing member oi the steady bearing detachably mounted on the base of said pot or housing and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom by movement below said pot or housing.

6. ln a Combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for the thrust bearing, a support for the stationary bearing member of the steady bearing mounted on and insertible into the base of said pot or housing within and below the same whereby the steady bearing is below the thrust bearing.

7. ln combined thrust and steady bearfor a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for containing the main body of lubricant in which the thrust bearing members are immersed, means for supporting the steady bearing below the thrust bearing, an auxiliary oil reservoir below said pot or housing, means for feeding oil from said auxiliary reservoir to the steady bearing, and means for supplying auxiliary reservoir with oil from said pot or housing.

8. in a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for containing the main body of lubricant in which the Vthrust bearing members are immersed, means for supporting the steady bearing from the base of said pot or housing and below the thrust bearing, an auxiliary oil reservoir mounted on said pot or housing below the same, means in said auxiliary reservoir for feeding oil from said reservoir to the steady bearing, said steady bearing delivering the oil to said pot or housing, and means for conveying Coal oil from said potor housing to said auxiliary reservoir.

9. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for the thrust bearing.v means for supporting the steady bearing below the thrust bearing, an auxiliary oil reservoir below said pot or housing including a rotatable bowl, and means for feeding oil from said bowl to said steady bearing.

10. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft provided with relatively rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, in combination with a pot or housing for the thrust bearing, means for supporting the steady bearing from the base of said pot or housingv and below said thrust bearing, an auxiliary oil reservoir below said pot or housing and including a rotatable bowl, passages whereby the pressure in the oil in said bowl generated by centrifugal force causes the oil to feed to anc. through said steady bearing, ard means for returning oil to said bowl from said pot or housing.

ll. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing, a stationary thrust collar, a stationary shaft on which said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively. and a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members as a unit.

l2. In a combined thrust and steady bearing, in combination with an oil well, a stationary 'thrust collar, a stationary shaft on which said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively, a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steauy bearing members as a unit, said last named nember constituting an oil reservoir for the thrust bearing,and means for circulating oil between said oil well and said reservoir.

13. In a combined thrust and steady bearing, a stationary thrust collar, a stationary shaft on wiich said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively, a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members as a unit, said last named member constituting a housing for said thrust and steady bearing members, and means for circulating oil to and from said thrust and steady bearing members.

14. In a combined thrust and steady bearing, a stationary thrust collar, a stationary shaft on which said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively, a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members as a unit. said last named member constituting an oil retaining' housingfor the thrust and steady bearings, and means whereby the centrifugal force induced in the oil by the rotation of said housing effects a circulation of oil to and from said steady bearing and said thrust bearing.

15. In a combined thrust and steady bearing, in combination with an oil well, a stationary thrust collar, a stationary shaft on which said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively, a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members as a unit, said last named member constituting' a housing for said thrust and steady bearing members, and

passages in said collar and shaft for conveying oil between said housing and oil well.

16. 1n a combined thrust and steady bearing, in combination with an oil well, va stationary thrust collar, a stationary shaft on which said collar is mounted, rotatable thrust and steady bearing members cooperating with said collar and shaft respectively, a member for mounting the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members as a unit, said last named member constituting a housing for said thrust and steady bearing members, and passages in said collar and shaft whereby oil is led to said steady bearing and said thrust bearing from said oil well and returned to said well by reason of the centrifugal action of the oil in said housing.

l?. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively movable thrust and steady bearing members, a iXed support for the stationary thrust and steady bearing members a support for the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, a main oil reservoir adapted to be maintained at a constant level, one of said supports being adapted to provide an auxiliary overflow reservoir, and means associated with said supports cooperating to cause the circulation of oil through.

the bearings and reservoirs.

18. In a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively movable thrust and steady bearing members, fixed support for the stationary thrust and steady bearing members, a support for the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, a main oil reservoir adapted to be maintained at a constant level. one of said supports being' adapted' to provide an auxiliary overflow reservoir below the main reservoir, and means. associated with said supportscoopcrating to raise the oil from the auxiliary oil reservoir and cause it to flow to the main reservoir.

'19. In a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively movable thrust and steady bearing members, a iXed support for the stationary thrust and steady bearing members, a support for the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, a main oil reservoir adapted to be maintained at a constant level, said rotatable support being adapted to provide an auxiliary overflow reservoir, and said supports having cooperating means whereby oil is fed to the steady bearing surfaces and thence to said main reservoir by relative rotation of said supports.

20. In ay combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively movable thrust and steady bearing members, a fixed support for the stationary thrust and steady bearing members, a support for the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, a main oil reservoir having a constant level overflow outlet, said rotatable support being adapted to provide an auxiliary reservoir below the main reservoir and adapted to receive the overflow therefrom, and said supports having cooperating means whereby oil is fed to the steady bearing surfaces by relative rotation of said supports.

21. In a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively movable thrust and steady bearing' members` a fixed support for the stationary thrust and steady bearing members, a support for the rotatable thrust and steady bearing members, a main oil reservoir having a constant level overflow outlet, said fixed support being adapted to provide an auxiliary reservoir below the `main reservoir and adapted to receive the overflow therefrom, and said supports having cooperating means whereby relative rotation of the supports causes oil to be fed to the bearing surfaces thereof.

A lubricating' system for a shaft havng relatively rotatable bearing members comprising a main reservoir adapted to supply oil to said bearing under a constant head, an auxiliary oil reservoir below said main reservoir adapted to receive the overflow from the main reservoir, and means in s'aid auxiliary reservoir, actuated by the relative rotation of the bearing members, for causing a 'return flow of oil from said auxiliary reservoir to said main reservoir.

Q3. A lubricating system for a shaft having relatively rotatable bearing members comprising a main reservoir adapted to supply oil to said bearing' under a constant head, cooling means in said reservoir, an auxiliary oil reservoir located below the main reservoir and adapted to receive the overflow of cool oil therefrom, and means in said auxiliary oil reservoir actuated by the relative rotation of the bearing members for raising a stream of oil from said auxiliary reservoir and returning it to the main reservoir.

24. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members, a stationary reservoir for lubricant adapted to be maintained at a constant level, a rotatable housing for the bearing members, and means rendered effective by rotation of said housing for circulating lubricant Y between said reservoir and housing.

25. ln a combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft, relatively rotatable bearing members, a stationary reservoir for lubricant adapted to be maintained a constant level, a rotatable housing for the bearing members located below said reservoir and adapted to provide an auxiliary overflow reservoir, and means rendered effective by rotation of said housing for circulating lubricant between said reservoir and housing.

26. A combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft comprising fixed and rotatable bearing members, a stationary reservoir for lubricant adapted to be maintained at a constant level, a. rotatable housing in which the rotatable bearing'members are mounted, and

a fixed support for the stationary bearing members, said housing and support cooperating to circulate lubricant between said reservoir and housing and through said bearings.

27. A combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft comprising fixed and rotatable bearing members, a stationary reservoir for lubricant adapted to be maintained at a constant level and provided with lubricant cooling means, a rotatable housing located below said reservoir and adapted to provide auxiliary overfiow reservoir in which the rotatable bearing members are mounted, and a fixed support for the stationary bearing members within said housing, said housing and support cooperating to pump lubricant from said housing to said reservoir.

28. A combined thrust and steady bearing for a shaft comprising fixed and rotatable bearing members, a. stationary reservoir for lubricant adapted to be maintained at a constant level and provided with lubricant cooling' means, a rotatable housing located below said reservoir and adapted to provide an auxiliary overflow reservoir in which the rotatable bearing members are mounted, and a fixed support for the stationary bearing members within said housing, said housing and support cooperating to raise lubricant from the housing to the support, and means for feeding cooled lubricant from said reservoir to said bearings.

n testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

HARRY A. S. l-IONA RTH. 

